Method and apparatus for time/date and/or session-limited temporary storage and playback of proprietary and non-proprietary media content utilizing re-writeable non-volatile memory.

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for temporary storage and playback of proprietary and non-proprietary media content and other works temporarily recorded on a re-writeable, non-volatile solid-state memory device. One embodiment of the invention relates to media such as motion pictures and other audio/video programs or works. The invention involves a manner of utilizing re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media (such as Flash memory), including but not limited to a USB-memory key or similar device, to transfer proprietary and non-proprietary content such as the above referenced motion picture and other audio/video programs or works, from a distribution source such as a video rental facility, to the re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media, and then to a user's viewing location (home, office, or other remote location), and allowing viewing of said content through a set-top box or other specifically designed playback device for a limited period of time, at the expiration of which time the re-writeable storage device automatically and permanently erases the recorded content leaving the storage device ready to receive and again temporarily store and playback new content. Because of the increasingly large capacity of non-volatile memory to store content, the content provider/rental facility can allow for storage of any number of motion picture and other audio/video programs, and said provider/rental facility can set varying expirations for each of the stored motion picture and other audio/video programs.

1 . A method for temporarily storing a set of data and/or a plurality of data sets on a re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media comprising, 1) obtaining data set(s) on a re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media device wherein said data sets are loaded to the storage media device at one location, allocated set playback criteria such as time limits, viewings, etc., and made available for playback at some remote location through a data-playback interface device, 2) applying playback criteria to each of a plurality of data sets stored on the storage media wherein the media resets the memory locations of each data set according to the playback criteria at the end of the pre-allocated viewing sessions, time limits, etc.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said playback criteria specify only a number of said playback sessions.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said playback criteria specify only a period of time for said playback sessions.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said playback criteria specify both a period of time and a number of sessions for playback.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said playback criteria are applied to a plurality of data sets wherein each has separate and different playback criteria.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined number of playback sessions is one.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said playback criteria is automatically pre-set during data loading based on acquired historical viewer playback characteristics.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said playback criteria is modified by the user via remote access to the user's account over an Internet connection.  
   
   
       9 . A playback device for playing back motion pictures and other audio/video programs or works comprising, 1) a storage medium access unit for retrieving data from said re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media, 2) a control unit comprising a computer processor for controlling operation of said storage medium access unit, 3) computer processor readable program code configured to cause said computer processor to retrieve playback criteria stored on said storage medium; and playback stored data set(s) according to said playback criteria.  
   
   
       10 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer processor useable medium having computer processor readable program code embodied therein for playing back a data set or plurality of data sets stored on a re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media, having individually or grouped assigned playback criteria comprising computer processor readable program code configured to cause a computer processor to determine playback criteria applicable to each of the stored data sets and computer processor readable program code configured to cause a computer processor to select and play back said data sets according to the determined playback criteria.  
   
   
       11 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer processor useable medium having computer processor readable program code embodied therein for analyzing playback criteria attached to a data set or plurality of data sets stored on a re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media comprising computer processor readable program code configured to cause a computer processor to cause the erasing of a data set or plurality of data sets based upon the analysis of the data's assigned playback criteria.  
   
   
       12 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein said playback criteria specify only a number of said playback sessions.  
   
   
       13 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein said playback criteria specify only a period of time for said playback sessions.  
   
   
       14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein said playback criteria specify both a period of time and a number of sessions for playback.  
   
   
       15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein said playback criteria are applied to a plurality of data sets wherein each has separate and different playback criteria.  
   
   
       16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein said predetermined number of playback sessions is one.  
   
   
       17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein said playback criteria is automatically pre-set during data loading based on acquired historical viewer playback characteristics.  
   
   
       18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein said playback criteria is modified by the user via remote access to the user's account over an Internet connection.  
   
   
       19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein said playback criteria specify only a number of said playback sessions to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein said playback criteria specify only a period of time for said playback sessions to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       21 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein said playback criteria specify both a period of time and a number of sessions for playback to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       22 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein said playback criteria are applied to a plurality of data sets wherein each has separate and different playback criteria to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       23 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein said predetermined number of playback sessions is one to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       24 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein said playback criteria is automatically pre-set during data loading based on acquired historical viewer playback characteristics to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       25 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein said playback criteria is modified by the user via remote access to the user's account over an Internet connection to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       26 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein a portion of said playback criteria is provided by a playback device used to play back said sets of data.  
   
   
       27 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein a portion of said playback criteria is provided by a playback device used to play back said sets of data to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       28 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10  wherein a portion of said playback criteria is recorded on said storage medium.  
   
   
       29 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11  wherein a portion of said playback criteria is recorded on said storage medium to trigger the erasing of said data set.  
   
   
       30 . A player for playing back programs recorded on re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media, said player comprising, 1) a storage medium access unit configured to retrieve data from a re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage medium having a single set or plurality of sets of prerecorded data, 2) a control unit comprising a computer processor for controlling operation of said storage medium access unit, 3) computer processor readable program code configured to cause said computer processor to retrieve playback criteria stored on said storage medium, said playback criteria identifying the criteria for playback of prerecorded data to be played back, play said programs through said player according to said criteria and optionally erase said programs from the re-writeable, non-volatile, solid-state storage media according to the playback criteria stored on said storage medium if erasing is not accomplished independent of the playback unit.